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NCAA Basketball: Fabulous freshman of 2016

By Blake Cockrum

Mar 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; From left to right McDonald's All-Americans Josh Jackson (11), Marques Bolden (1), Terrance Ferguson (6), and Jarrett Allen (31) who are all presently undecided on choice of college to attend pose for a group photo before the McDonald's High School All-American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; From left to right McDonald's All-Americans Josh Jackson (11), Marques Bolden (1), Terrance Ferguson (6), and Jarrett Allen (31) who are all presently undecided on choice of college to attend pose for a group photo before the McDonald's High School All-American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; From left to right McDonald’s All-Americans Miles Bridges (0) and Joshua Langford (25) who both will be attending Michigan State pose for a group photo before the McDonald’s High School All-American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 30, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; From left to right McDonald’s All-Americans Miles Bridges (0) and Joshua Langford (25) who both will be attending Michigan State pose for a group photo before the McDonald’s High School All-American Game at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

10. Miles Bridges (Michigan State)

Tom Izzo is famous in the college basketball community for utilizing talent. He hasn’t always been able to gather as many top-tier recruits as Kentucky or Duke, but he’s achieved great success with the players he’s had.

Of course, that’s not to say that he hasn’t had talent. He’s had great players like Mateen Cleaves, Goran Suton, Raymar Morgan, Draymond Green, Kalin Lucas, Adreian Payne, and Denzel Valentine among others. He simply hasn’t been blessed with the handful of one-and-done players that John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski seem to have on their hands almost every season.

Miles Bridges goes against that mold. He’s a fantastic player with high praise coming out of high school. He was heavily recruited by many of the top basketball schools in the nation. Izzo was able to reel him in to the mix at Michigan State, where the Spartans already had a solid class of recruits.

Perhaps it’s less about what I can say, and more about what I can show you in illustrating how special the 6’6″ forward is.

https://twitter.com/MilesBridges01/status/748305983672299520

That’s right. Bridges maxed out the vertical test, showing that he can leap high enough to touch the very top of the backboard. That kind of ability can’t be taught.

Bridges is a 6’6”, 218-pound small forward with great athleticism and tons of upside. He’s a good shooter who’s excellent in transition and good at finishing around the rim. He’s a strong, tough player who doesn’t mind playing through contact and in traffic.

He chose to attend Michigan State over Kentucky, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan, North Carolina and North Carolina State. Along with five-star shooting guard Josh Langford, Bridges helped Izzo garner a top-10 recruiting class in 2016.

In all likelihood, the Spartans will receive a top-10 ranking to start the 2016-17 season as well.

Next: 9. Malik Monk

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